What are the early signs of glaucoma, and can a regular optician spot them?

Glaucoma is often called the "silent thief of sight" because it typically develops slowly and without noticeable symptoms in the early stages.
Some early signs, when they do appear, may include blurred vision, seeing halos around lights, eye pain, headaches, or gradual loss of peripheral (side) vision.

However, these signs often become apparent only when the condition is more advanced, which is why regular eye exams are so important.

Yes, a regular optician, more specifically, an optometrist, can often detect early signs of glaucoma during a routine eye test. They use tools like tonometry (to measure eye pressure), visual field tests, and OCT scans to check the health of the optic nerve.

If they spot anything concerning, they’ll refer you to an ophthalmologist for further testing and treatment. Regular eye exams are your best defense against undetected vision loss from glaucoma.